Lawn Mower Safety
Reported by: Carlos Correa
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 @08:09pm CST
There is a new warning tonight from the Safety Council of the Ozarks about using lawn mower equipment. The group wants you to be cautious as the summer months approach.
The warning comes just as a two-year-old girl from Lawrence County is seriously injured after authorities say she fell from her father’s lap while on a riding lawnmower on Tuesday evening.
It’s the equipment commonly used to cut grass, but the Safety Council of the Ozarks says it’s also the most dangerous tools around the house.
“The things that we like to make sure that people realize are there’s just a few things and they are just basic common sense, but we don’t exercise them a lot,” said Mike Mulhall, occupational director at Safety Council of the Ozarks.
The group says 68,000 people around the country visit emergency rooms every year after being injured by mowers.
Of that number, 9,000 and victims are younger than 18-years-old.
“Some of the big injuries we have with it are obviously some real serious cuts. The cuts are the biggest problem with that fingers are getting amputated things of that nature and the second side of that with the refueling is a lot of kids are getting burned,” said Mulhall.
Debbie Williams of Willard says the summer months are always busy. Her company takes every step to make sure things run smoothly.
“We worry about rocks and stuff in the yard. We are really cautious. We walk a yard over to make sure there are any rock, toys or anytime like that that can hit the house or people walking up and down the street,” said Williams.
To prevent injuries while mowing your lawn, the experts say you should operate a mower with a control and don’t allow children younger than 16-years-old to use a ride-on mower.
They also say people shouldn’t allow any children like the young victim in Lawrence county to ride as passengers or they could end up injured as she did. The two-year-girl had severe injuries to her lower calf and a partially amputated foot when she was airlifted to the hospital.
“The riders, you know look like they are safe than just the push mowers, but actually I think people with pets and stuff on there, I mean that’s not even safe,” said Williams.
The Safety Council says people involved in similar accidents often experience injuries such deep cuts, loss of fingers and toes, broken and dislocated bones, burns and eye injuries.
Authorities say the two-year-old Lawrence County girl lost a lot of blood in the accident, however, she’s reportedly in fair condition.
